Young boys attend class at the public school in Madaya, Syria. Right: Ahmed al-Fikri helps his 12-year-old son Abdo al-Fikri, with his homework.

Young boys attend class at the public school in Madaya, Syria. Right: Ahmed al-Fikri helps his 12-year-old son Abdo al-Fikri, with his homework.

Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press

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Young boys attend class at the public school in Madaya, Syria. Right: Ahmed al-Fikri helps his 12-year-old son Abdo al-Fikri, with his homework.

Young boys attend class at the public school in Madaya, Syria. Right: Ahmed al-Fikri helps his 12-year-old son Abdo al-Fikri, with his homework.

Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press

Image 3 of 4

In this Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013 photo, Syrian children walk downstairs at the public school in Madaya village as classes begin in the Idlib province countryside of Syria. Millions of Syrian children most of them in government-controlled areas have returned to school in the past two weeks, despite the conflict that according to UNICEF has left 4,000 Syrian schools or one in five damaged, destroyed or sheltering displaced families. (AP Photo) less

In this Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013 photo, Syrian children walk downstairs at the public school in Madaya village as classes begin in the Idlib province countryside of Syria. Millions of Syrian children most of ... more

Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press

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Syrian children returning to school

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Syrian children - most of them in government-controlled areas - have returned to school in the past two weeks, despite the conflict that the U.N. Children's Fund says has left 4,000 schools - one in five - damaged, destroyed or converted into shelters for displaced families or armed groups. When government forces feared possible U.S. air strikes, they shifted troops and armor out of military facilities and into schools and residential neighborhoods, the Washington Post reported.

Ongoing fighting between opposition forces and troops loyal to President Bashar Assad has left an estimated 2 million Syrian children without an education. Another 1 million children have fled into neighboring countries where the lucky ones find schools in refugee communities.

A recent UNICEF report said many Syrian children have not attended class since the conflict began in 2011. And in areas where schools have remained open, attendance rates are as low as 6 percent since most parents fear for their children's safety. Aside from damaged buildings, UNICEF blames poor security, lack of teachers and resources, along with the pressure to drop out and earn an income or get married early.